Copperhed51

Well, honestly the people I've gotten to fly with at Lakes haven't been weak when it comes to standing up to the company but I think the overall attitude toward open time is pretty weak. I was a bit discouraged recently when I was talking to a Captain at our company who had no idea what the RLA was and that we couldn't strike any time we wanted. As for the union meetings, I haven't shown up yet because I didn't want to spend a day off commuting to Denver then commuting back home for the meeting. It would be kind of cool if we could hold the meetings in some kind of online setting (maybe an actual use for Google Wave, though I don't have it yet) but who knows. I'm not hiding behind my screen name either. If you want to know who I am, just PM me. There are plenty on here who know me. Also, I've been a little short tempered lately because one of my close friend's little bro's died the other day and I've been helping support the family a lot...just leaves me drained emotionally so don't take any of this too personally.

AirWillie

Copperhead, where do you get your knowledge about how a pilot group should be with your very limited experience as an FO? I find it very ironic that now you're calling your pilot group weak and are talking about attending union meetings when just last month you were bailing and were trying to find out about what you'd need to know when you got back to ERJ recall class at TSA. I'm sure Great Lakes and its pilots would be very happy to know that you're doing a favor to them by being there while you wait for TSA, it's the least you can do, and trying to change their policies too while you're at it for the good of the weak pilot group. You definitely have a future as an MEC.

Copperhed51

Nobody wants to be stuck at Lakes, especially in the right seat. Of course I was going to bail and so will any of the other furloughees stuck over there right now, and there are quite a few. I've flown with guys from United, Continental, Vanguard, Spirit, Eagle, Airborne Express, Alaska, Frontier, and other airlines and talk to them about pilot groups and how things should be done. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I have opinions that I'm willing to share on how to make things better. Why do you get such a big boner over attacking me anyway?

ovrtake92

On another note, congrats to some of the recent departures from GLA. Not many hiring these days so thank your lucky stars to be on the road to eating better than Ramen Noodles. Some good news for all of us these days.

AirWillie

I would definitely say that a pilot from United, Continental, Alaska is REALLY stuck there. It's as severe as it can get for them, on par with going from a 100k job to working as a package handler so of course they're going to bail. For you though, I would show a little more consideration towards the company that took you in and the pilot group that actually wants to be there and make a difference, not to mention the thousands of CFIs that are ready to take your job. You didn't get an upgrade at Great Lakes in 3.7 months and now you're stuck??

flynd94

Rant ON

Consideration towards a company, you got to be kidding me!!!! A company that pressures you to fly broke aircraft, fly fatigued, has no respect for its employees (remember the infamous "bloodletting memo"), no respect for the passengers that we carry and, I could go on.

Next the union/pilot group, they are off to a somewhat shaky start. They blinked in our first round of talks with mgmt on our new contract. Hopefully, we will continue together but, that is still to be seen. I see way to pilots in our group that are willing to do the company a "favor" or, when pressed by the company cave in.

I did upgrade in under 6 months here and, brought a wealth of experience with me. Yes, I do feel stuck here, no having to commute to a **** hole of a base in Farmingtion, NM. To the thousands of CFI's out there, come to Lakes with all the information you can possibly have. I did my own research and, can't believe how bad it is here. I thought being a 135 freight was tough, this place sucks even more.

Cut Copperhead a little slack, as a fourloughee myself, I will leave Lakes quicker than sh&% when my time comes. Also, if this place is so great why are so many CA's leaving as soon as they hit 1000 PIC, quite a few of them without a job in hand.

Rant OFF

thepotato232

It's amazing, the inordinate amount of loyalty so many Lakers show the company that treats them so poorly. Just so we're clear, Voss does not hit you because he loves you.

More to the point, I don't think Copperhed, or any objective observer for that matter, would be out of line to call the pilot group "weak" in a collective bargaining sense. Lakes has existed since time immemorial with an ever-changing cast of line pilots who kept their heads down through the worst of the ****storm in the interest of leaving as soon as possible. I know things are changing over there, but it takes a long time to effect that kind of shift in mindset.

AirWillie

Then why didn't you try Burger King? The entitlement mentality is just amazing.

Copperhed51

I know, it's just crazy that I feel entitled to more than $15k/yr. I really need to reevaluate my feeling of self-worth.

flynd94

What entitlement mentality are you talking about? One that would like a modicum of respect from his employer? It that's it, then I am guilty. I guess I should get on my knee's and thank Voss/Howell for giving me the pleasure of working here.

PS-If my entitlement has to do with my upgrade. I went to lakes with previous 135/121 and, more than the avg 300hr wonder they hire (when I was a FO, I never had a CA have more TT than me). Trust me I have paid my dues.

BTW, AirWillie do you even work at Lakes. With your screen name, I would assume you are a Air Whiskey. Actually, I just found out you are a HoJetter, explains, the wanting to suck off mgmt